In the heart of Coppell on Saturday morning, a crescendo of compassion and melody is echoing through the front room of Coppell Cozby Library and Community Commons during Notelove’s “Music and Me” group session, marking a year since their first one.  Notelove DFW, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking down financial barriers to music education, is orchestrating a symphony of change.  Notelove DFW, a 501(c) certified nonprofit, was born out of the desire to provide free music lessons to youth in California, Massachusetts and Texas. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Coppell High School has become a vital hub for this musical movement.  Notelove was started in September 2018 by Omar Shohoud with the intention to give low-income youth in the Bay Area the music education he was grateful to have been able to receive.  Facing the stark reality that music education is often a privilege reserved for those who can afford it, Notelove DFW aims to bridge the gap. With the mission of spreading the joy of music to the youth, Notelove’s volunteers dedicate themselves to encouraging everyone to follow their passion for music.

“Notelove has taught me about volunteering, community engagement and leadership,” said senior Akanksha Subbarao, who serves as Notelove DFW co-executive director. “Since lessons are free, they count as volunteering hours for members. While it was helpful to obtain volunteer hours at first, I stopped counting them as frequently because I genuinely enjoyed teaching for what it was.”

The financial burden associated with music lessons and program fees can be staggering, often pricing talented individuals out of the world of music education. Notelove DFW stands as a testament to the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the joy of music. By offering free lessons, the organization is not just teaching notes and scales but also dismantling socioeconomic barriers that hinder access to the performing arts. “Our purpose for dedicating time and energy towards Notelove DFW stems from the fact that most music teachers typically charge between $50 to $150 per hour for lessons, and music program fees at school can add up to hundreds of dollars per student annually,” said senior Nikhil Kini, who serves as Notelove DFW co-executive director.

To begin lessons with Notelove, they have a simple and efficient two-step process, consisting of filling out a sign-up interest form, followed by a confirmation email to get connected with an instructor. Within about one to two weeks, the instructor will send an email to select the best-suited time for the most consistent and convenient practices. With a team of 42 passionate and qualified instructors, the organization has already touched the lives of 100 students, offering lessons in 11 different instruments and accumulating an impressive 1,024 total hours of volunteer time. “A memorable highlight to me is Notelove’s ‘Music and Me’ program we hold at the Cozby Library. Toddlers come with their parents and we all sing songs, having a great time,” said junior Sophie Depew, who serves as Notelove DFW marketing director. “Both the kids and parents seem to love it, and I speak for all of the Notelove directors when I say it means the world to us when parents come up and tell us how much they appreciate our program and the energy we give to the kids.”

With many of Notelove DFW’s volunteers being from the CHS band program, they have been taught a great deal of significance that practice, communication and confidence have, thus being implemented into the success of the non-profit, creating positive change.  “Being a part of Notelove has only grown my strong love for music and has taught me a countless number of lessons while giving me memories that I will take with me in the future,” Subbarao said. “A highlight I remember well is my 6-year-old student finally gaining the confidence to play a piano piece by herself at our second annual spring recital; until then, we had only been playing teacher-student duets, however, that was the first time she made it alone, and seeing the smile she had playing that piece reflected all of the hard work and growth that this program stands for.”

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This story was originally published on Coppell Student Media on January 24, 2024.